An atypical year 2023-2024 for Moroccan futures

The Moroccan early season for the year 2023-2024 was something of an exception. A late start, record summer temperatures, illness, and continued uncertainty. The Souss Massa region, which represents 80% of national production of early vegetables and 67% of exports, was hit hard by a difficult summer. Exceptionally high temperatures, plant diseases and seed shortages have delayed the start of the campaign, leaving producers in uncertainty. Oussama Machi, a market gardener from the region, emphasizes to Freshplaza that this tumultuous summer influenced the entire Moroccan agricultural campaign. The uncertainty surrounding the availability of seeds resistant to ToBRFV, which has become epidemic in Morocco, has led to a wait-and-see attitude among producers. Planting decisions were made at the last minute, leading to overproduction once all growers finally decided to plant. Favorable weather conditions then contributed to exceptional crop growth. The prices of tomatoes have fallen by ...